Number Six: 2002 17-14 Victory Over Florida

A football defeat over a top ten team in the nation in 2002 finds its way to number six on the biggest sports/news memories of the last four years. The 2002 Ole Miss Rebels led by QB Eli Manning defeated the never six ranked Florida Gators 17-14. This game was the largest on campus attendance at the time with a record 61,140 fans in attendance.

I can still remember the headline of the DM to this day, it simply read: "UNBELIEVABLE" with a picture of Conner Bills rushing onto the field arms raised. The headline was perfect, it truly was unbelievable. I would have never dreamed we would have beat Florida on that October afternoon. Older fans put this win up there with the Notre Dame and Sugar Bowl victories. While Ole Miss had won many big games, none had ever happened this big in Oxford and it christened the new South Endzone addition.

The Ole Miss defense really accounted for this win. They held Rex Grossman and the Gators to just four first downs and zero points in the final 30 minutes. They were also responsible for eight of the Rebels 17 points. Including a safety intentional grounding call on Grossman and a Matt Grier interception return for a touchdown. The defense was all over Grossman that afternoon and forced him to throw four interceptions.

I would have to say the worst part of the game was when Ole Miss had it on the two yard line and it was first and goal. A combination running back duo of Vashon Pearson and Tremaine Turner could not get it across the goal line in four tries. The fact Ole Miss won this game without Eli even throwing a touchdown is incredible.

Ole Miss fans were on the edge of their seat not knowing if the win would actually hold up until Travis Blanchard's interception with over two minutes left, did I believe we would win. After the interception the place erupted and the celebration began. Rebel students and fans rushed the field. Cobra Security at their finest were ready and threatening anyone who tried to take down the South Endzone goal post. Fans did however manage to make it to the North Endzone and take the goal post down. The sight on the field was amazing. Girls were getting knocked out and players were on fans shoulders.(Note the picture above, that is me in the red hat, picture appeared in Clarion Ledger)

The Rebels were 4-1 and and the last time the Rebels had beaten a higher ranked team in Oxford, was Maryland in 1952. Rebel fans were excited again and football was king in Oxford once again. We all know how the season ended. But Ole Miss was back on the map for a couple of years, and the Florida win put us there.